We are led into a deeper truth as we are introduced to the third widow of Luke.
"And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother" (Luke 7:11-1511And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. 12Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. 13And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. 14And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. 15And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. (Luke 7:11‑15)).
In Scripture the expression "son" often carries the thought of hope-Christ the hope of Israel, Abraham's son Isaac, the son of Ruth who was the daughter-in-law to Naomi, and many others.
In the foregoing account, death had fallen upon the hope of a needy widow. Having been dependent upon her son, all resource and support are gone. How faithless man is. We never turn to God unless driven to it. Alas, many do not then!
Yet it was God who had allowed this distress in her life.
Twice in these verses we are told that there were "much people". But the day following the burial, where would they be? No one would be left to support a needy, lonesome, forlorn soul, bereft of all stay. Much people could not give the comfort of God. Only this will do for the heart of man yearning for rest of soul in the turbulent vicissitudes of this life. Death had enclosed all.
Jesus is always present where there is an exigency.
"And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her" (Luke 7:13).
Little did this widow know that there was one Eye which saw all and cared-One who was able to take the place of husband, son, or brother. "There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother" (Prov. 18:2424A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)).
As she passed toward the gate of the city, she turned to see Jesus standing beside her. There is nothing we can notice which would indicate that she had ever seen Him before, had ever heard kind words from His lips, or felt the comfort of His presence or a demonstration of His power.
How much a soul can learn in a few moments about God through Jesus, if in His presence and in want. Was it not so with the thief on the cross with Jesus, as he heard and believed the words, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do"? He immediately passed from the jaws of hell into the paradise of God. At this hour of deep sorrow and bereavement, a poor soul, at the very bottom of despair, is to discover hope in resurrection life. Such are the ways of our God-always faithful as a Creator God (1 Peter 4:1919Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. (1 Peter 4:19)). Do not say that you have never had an opportunity to come and be blessed; He is right now standing at the door. She learns compassion, comfort, and love, as well as vital truth.
Who was this who could speak with such compassion? Dear friend, have you never heard the voice of the Son of God, the One who in His time shall wipe all tears away? Would it not be good to hear those words of compassion now before eternal weeping begins? He can turn that night of weeping into eternal day now. When He comes, it will be forever too late (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24); 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)).
How much passes in our lives until we are brought to a sense of our personal necessity. It is this that introduces us to Jesus, as it was with this widow. Here stands a Man, the Son of man, with a beating heart, to assume all of the liabilities of this destitute widow. There she stands, a helpless creature, in the presence of her Creator who had become a Man, not to judge, for He had not come for that, blessed Savior, but to wipe her tears and to place all of her hopes in resurrection life. Perfect love acts without any thought of receiving anything in return; it just gives. This was new to man. He had no capacity to take it in. Even this capacity must be furnished-the creature had nothing good in himself.
This Capacity Is New Birth.
Here we find the very God of hope Himself-the One whose own heart is the origin and the full efficacy of love, compassion, comfort, rest, and hope. He stands beside the bier of His creature with the power of resurrection, in His hand. He is about to undo the works of Satan. Once He said to Martha, "I am the Resurrection and the Life." He touches the bier. An Israelite would be defiled-not Jesus. He has annulled the power of death. What grace it is to know Him. One word from His lips, and death flees.
It was a marvelous visitation by the God of heaven that day, in the Person of His Son, where all hope was gone! Her heart drank in the blessing-life in resurrection. Not one word was heard from the widow-first overcome with bitter, bitter grief-then overcome with joy, everlasting joy.
Who can take in the profound depths of love and grace that would so act-restoring the son to his mother, taking nothing again? Here is perfect goodness found only in God. This is the way that God wishes to make Himself known.
Learning thus the beginning of heavenly things, life in resurrection, the soul is set at liberty, having its hope outside of a scene of death.
"All death behind, all life before."